Laura Pensiero, RDN
Laura Pensiero
Dietitian, Chef, Wellness Advocate, Food Industry Leader
Food is Delicious medicine
As a pioneer at the intersection of nutrition and culinary arts for over two decades, Laura Pensiero is a recognized thought leader and hands-on innovator in the "Food is Medicine" movement. She literally puts it on plates daily, serving patrons at her 24-year-young award-winning Mediterranean restaurant, Gigi Trattoria in Rhinebeck, NY, and through her catering business and custom menus, integrating clinical expertise with culinary creativity.
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With a commitment and deep belief that quality food matters, Laura’s approach empowers individuals, companies, and organizations to embrace nutrition as a powerful tool for health and well-being. Laura’s current focus includes prevention, longevity, and healthy food education.
LAURA'S JOURNEY
Laura’s journey began as a registered dietitian at premier teaching hospitals, where she witnessed firsthand the limitations of traditional nutrition intervention, often arriving too late to make a meaningful impact. Driven by a desire to bridge this gap, she trained at The French Culinary Institute, merging her clinical expertise with culinary creativity to become a chef who not only nourishes but empowers through food.
As the founding chef/nutritionist of Just Salad and the owner of Gigi Hudson Valley, Laura has built influential food brands from the ground up, shaping a new standard of healthy, accessible eating. She has authored or contributed to over 20 cookbooks, sharing her philosophy of food as a vehicle for health and longevity.
TODAY
&
THE FUTURE
Today, Laura is at the forefront of personalized nutrition, integrating technology and epigenetics to develop tailored wellness strategies that address individual health needs. Laura’s career is defined by a relentless commitment to excellence, where each step—whether as a dietitian, chef, wellness advocate, or food industry leader—is rooted in one core belief: food is medicine, and its impact can transform lives.
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Laura is a master networker, connector, and problem solver who thrives on creating opportunities for meaningful collaborations that bring people together to advance impactful initiatives.